Something "very" different on a well known subject, 26 Feb 2003

By	Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author.) - See all my reviews

The Bull and the Barriers - The Wrecks of Scapa Flow is paperback, measuring 9¾ in x 6¾ in and contains over 120 pages of information and dialogue presented in an easy-to-read style. The real "treasure," however, is found in the numerous previously unpublished postcards and photographs showing British and German ships throughout that period before during and after the internment of the German High Sea Fleet, right up to 1939 when the Royal Oak was lost. These pictures alone provide an amazing insight into what life was like in what was - according to one sailor's poem reproduced in the book, a little loved posting.

As with the rest if the book, a great deal of thought went into the title - which is derived from two elements of Scapa's past that are forever enshrined in the Naval History of our nation. The U-Boat that sank the Royal Oak was U-47 and her motif was that of a snorting Bull. Of course, the Barriers designed to prevent any repeat occurrence are legendary in themselves.

Many readers will be surprised that Lawson Wood has produced a book that is not aimed primarily at the Scuba Diver and may even criticise this work for lacking in diving detail - but diving detail was never the purpose. This book will be of immense interest to anyone studying the historical aspects of Scapa Flow as well as anyone contemplating a dive in these northern climes. For me, personally, this book has added considerably to the factual information on my own bookshelf and I see myself returning to it's pages time and again in the years to come.

In short, this is the sort of book that everyone will wish they had bought - when it's out of print!

NM

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